RUSSIAN, LITHUANIAN CONSORTIUMS VIE FOR BALTIC OIL.

Botha Russian-Kaliningrad consortium and a Lithuanian-American-Frenchgroup have announced plans to develop oil under the Baltic Sea,BNS reported June 27. Their competition adds impetus to Lithuania’sefforts to reach an agreement with both Russia and Latvia on thedemarcation of the sea borders of the three countries. Meanwhile,a Russian foreign ministry official promised that Moscow would"examine seriously" Vilnius’ complaints about repeatedRussian violations of Lithuanian airspace and would punish anyRussian pilot found guilty of doing so.